When did the World Rally Championship jump the shark?

[N.O.T]

on july 16th 1975 around 4:37pm GMT...maybe.

[cut the b.s.]

on july 16th 1975 around 4:37pm GMT...maybe.

your birthday??

[N.O.T]

i am not that old, but far grumpier than that age...

[Daniel]

I must say that the WRC has gone from strength to strength now that codrivers names are allowed on the side windows of the cars

[pino]

When Gigi Galli retired :

[Macd]

When Colin McRae retired. But really I would say this slippery slope started in 2002/03

[lcd]

When they ( FIA, teams, drivers e.t.c. ) started thinking of ways
to protect the cars from serious damages...

[AndyRAC]

Interesting question. Personally, I think there have been a few ‘moments’ that have put the sport on a downward spiral.
The FiA’s decision to introduce the ‘cloverleaf’ format – immediately, the roaming ‘classic’ events (Monte, RAC, etc) were emasculated, add in the 9-5 hours, no night stages. Trying to make it ‘F1 on Gravel’. What we are left with are identikit events; 2/3 stages, service, same stages repeated. Not exactly endurance!! Events should be a mix of 2,3,4,5 days – all with different challenges.
The other pivotal moment was 2004/5 when a few Manufacturers all left at the same time. So the FiA brought in SupeRally. What they should have done was brought in a new cheaper formula for 2007/8 to attract the Manufacturers. More Manufacturers=more drivers, possibly more drivers challenging. With more drivers challenging, there is a story, and possibly attracting better media coverage.
I honestly don’t see what Ford/Citroen get out of the current WRC – Wow, you beat one other competitor!

[N.O.T]

I honestly don’t see what Ford/Citroen get out of the current WRC – Wow, you beat one other competitor!

it was always like that....1-2 maximum 3 competitve manufacturers and the rest were just spectators...whats the difference in having 10 manufacturers when you actually have a battle beteween the 2 of them seat hyundai mitsubishi suzuki and subaru in the last few years were just watching the action from the sidelines.

the problem is you seem to be very pesimistic about the sport....as everything in life this also goes in circles.... good times lead to bad times and visa versa. the thing is that crybabies will always be crybabies and will cry like little girls all the time no matter what. the thing is crying never solved anything and suggesting stupid solutions like 10 day events 100 night stages and crocodile pits just shows you must start watching some girly sport like football.

[BOZIANracing]

the problem is you seem to be very pesimistic about the sport....as everything in life this also goes in circles.... good times lead to bad times and visa versa. the thing is that crybabies will always be crybabies and will cry like little girls all the time no matter what. the thing is crying never solved anything and suggesting stupid solutions like 10 day events 100 night stages and crocodile pits just shows you must start watching some girly sport like football.[/QUOTE]

ouch! everyone is entitled to their opinion man.. was watching the old 2001 videos on youtube,differen times.. the sport is a shadow of itself